| UN Security Council Resolution 1209 | |
|---|---|
 Seized weapons in Kenya | |
| Date | 19 November 1998 |
| Meeting no. | 3,945 |
| Code | S/RES/1209 (Document) |
| Subject | The situation in Africa |
Voting summary |
|
| Result | Adopted |
| Security Council composition | |
Permanent members | |
Non-permanent members | |
United Nations Security Council resolution 1209, adopted unanimously on 19 November 1998, after recalling resolutions 1170 (1998) and 1196 (1998) on Africa, the Council addressed illicit arms flows on the continent. [1]
The Security Council considered further a report by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the situation in Africa concerning the importance of stemming illegal arms flows. [2] It recognised that illegal arms traffic was closely connected to the role of commercial and political interests. African countries did have the right to obtain weapons for reasons of national security and policing. Switzerland had offered to hold a conference in Geneva on illegal arms traffic and there were negotiations in Vienna on the elaboration of an international convention against transnational organised crime, including a protocol to combat illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms. The Council commended African initiatives to address the problem of arms flows, such as in Mali and Mozambique, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Security Council was concerned about large-scale illegal arms trafficking in Africa, particularly of small arms and the threat it posed to security, development and humanitarian situation on the continent. [3] In this regard, African countries were urged to introduce legislation on the use of arms. Member States, particularly those that manufactured weapons, were reminded of the importance of restricting arms transfers which could provoke or prolong armed conflicts. [4] The resolution encouraged African states to participate in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and to establish regional and subregional registers to enhance the transparency of arms transfers. They were also instructed to look to the European Union and Organization of American States for their efforts in tackling the arms trade and to adopt similar measures.
In addition, the Secretary-General was encouraged to find ways to identify international arms dealers acting in contravention of national legislation or arms embargoes imposed by the United Nations. He was also urged to promote co-operation among Member States, to explore ways of disseminating information on arms flows and their destabilising effects and to implement voluntary weapons collection programmes. [5]
United Nations Security Council resolution 1161, adopted unanimously on 9 April 1998, after recalling all previous resolutions on Rwanda, particularly resolutions 918 (1994), 997 (1995), 1011 (1995), 1013 (1995) and 1053 (1996), the Council reactivated the Commission of Inquiry concerning violations of the arms embargo against former Rwandan government forces.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1170, adopted unanimously on 27 May 1998, after considering the situation across the African continent, the Council decided to establish an ad hoc Working Group to review the Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recommendations concerning the maintenance of international peace and security in Africa.
The United Nations Security Council resolution 1196 was adopted unanimously on 16 September 1998, after recalling Resolution 1170 (1998) on Africa; the Council discussed the importance of strengthening the effectiveness of arms embargoes in place in several countries across the continent.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1306, adopted on 5 July 2000, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone, particularly resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998) and 1299 (2000), the Council decided to prohibit the direct or indirect import of rough diamonds from the country. The rebel Revolutionary United Front controlled 90% of the diamond-producing areas in Sierra Leone and was using diamonds to finance its operations.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1343, adopted unanimously on 7 March 2001, after recalling resolutions on Sierra Leone and the region, including resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998) and 1306 (2000), the Council demanded that Liberia end its support for rebels in Sierra Leone and threatened the imposition of wide-ranging sanctions unless the country complied with the Security Council.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1425, adopted unanimously on 22 July 2002, after recalling resolutions on the situation in Somalia, particularly resolutions 733 (1992) and 1407 (2002), the council established a panel of experts to investigate violations of the arms embargo against the country.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1467, adopted unanimously on 18 March 2003, after expressing concern at the situation in West Africa, the Council adopted a declaration regarding the proliferation of weapons and mercenary activities in West Africa.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1533, adopted unanimously on 12 March 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the council established a committee to monitor an arms embargo imposed on all foreign and Congolese forces in the east of the country.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1558, adopted unanimously on 17 August 2004, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, particularly resolutions 733 (1992) and 1519 (2003), the Council re-established a group to monitor the arms embargo against the country for a further six months.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1579, adopted unanimously on 21 December 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, the Council extended arms, timber and travel sanctions against the country for twelve months and a diamond ban for six months.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1587, adopted unanimously on 15 March 2005, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, particularly resolutions 733 (1992), 1519 (2003) and 1558 (2004), the council re-established a group to monitor the arms embargo against the country for a further six months.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1596, adopted unanimously on 18 April 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1493 (2003), 1533 (2004), 1552 (2004), 1565 (2004) and 1592 (2005), the council expanded the arms embargo to include all recipients of weapons in the country, and imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on those violating the embargo.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1607, adopted unanimously on 21 June 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia, the Council extended the embargo on Liberian diamonds for a further six months.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1616, adopted unanimously on 29 July 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1493 (2003), 1533 (2004), 1552 (2004), 1565 (2004), 1592 (2005) and 1596 (2005), the Council extended sanctions against the country for a further year after relevant parties did not comply with its demands.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1630, adopted unanimously on 14 October 2005, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, particularly resolutions 733 (1992), 1519 (2003), 1558 (2004) and 1587 (2005), the council re-established a group to monitor the arms embargo against the country for a further six months and condemned the increase in flow of weapons to the country in violation of the embargo.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1643, adopted unanimously on 15 December 2005, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire, the Council extended an arms embargo and travel and financial restrictions against the country until 15 December 2006, and included a ban on the trade of diamonds.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1649, adopted unanimously on 21 December 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including resolutions 1533 (2004), 1565 (2004), 1592 (2005), 1596 (2005) and 1616 (2005), 1621 (2005) and 1628 (2005), the council extended and expanded sanctions against the country until 31 July 2006, and demanded that foreign fighters disarm or face sanctions.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1676, adopted unanimously on May 10, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, particularly resolutions 733 (1992), 1519 (2003), 1558 (2004), 1587 (2005) and 1630 (2006), the Council re-established a group to monitor the arms embargo against the country for a further six months.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1724, adopted unanimously on November 29, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, particularly resolutions 733 (1992), 1519 (2003), 1558 (2004), 1587 (2005), 1630 (2006) and 1676 (2006), the Council re-established a group to monitor the arms embargo against the country for a further six months and condemned an increase in the flow of weapons to the country.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1857 was unanimously adopted on 22 December 2008.
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